12/22 - Holiday Season in Armenia

The following is an excerpt from the regular newsletter sent out to PCVs in Armenia. It explains how Armenians traditionally celebrate Christmas and the New Year. I wanted to write something about it, but figured I'd "KISS" (Keep It Simple Stupid) and just pass along this information. I added the transliterations of the Armenian words, in case you want to baffle your loved ones this holiday season. 


I do plan on posting an update here after the holidays. We'll see if my experience with the Armenian holiday season aligns with these traditions!

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի և Սուրբ Ծնունդ 

[shnorhavor nor tari yev surp tsneund]

ARMENIAN NEW YEAR AND CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

New Year celebrations became very popular only in Soviet times when celebrating religious holidays were not encouraged and Armenian Christmas was undervalued. On January 1st,  Armenians celebrate the New Year with the rest of the world. Most of Armenians here in Armenia consider it the biggest and most important holiday, maybe as important as their own birthdays and anniversaries. The preparations start earlier in mid December when people start purchasing all kinds of food items and loading their refrigerators with various types of meat, produce, dried fruits and nuts. Some people spend all their savings, some even may borrow money, "not to disgrace themselves in front of the neighbors".


During the last days of December housewives keep extremely busy both cleaning and washing and cooking and baking. Many families decorate fir trees and prepare gifts for each other and especially for children. Parents usually wrap up some gifts for little kids “brought by Santa Claus – Dzmer papi”. Late in the evening families gather around a beautifully laid table and help themselves to various dishes, salads and pastries. Usually TV is on and everybody is in festive mood. Closer to midnight the president and the Catholicos speak on all local channels and congratulate the population.

As the clock strikes 12, people clink glasses and congratulate each other toasting for the New Year. They eat, drink and dance; younger people get together and may stay awake till early morning. Already close neighbors and relatives start visiting each other. It is a must to visit and congratulate older people first-parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts. It is a custom not to go "empty handed" but take a box of chocolate and a drink and maybe candies and small toys for the kids in the family. These visits continue till January 13, the so called "Old New Year"- New Year by the old Calendar. This was a common tradition observed in all Soviet Republics and was borrowed by Russians (Russians adopted Gregorian Calendar only in 1918, so the difference between the two calendars was 13 days, and they still follow Julian calendar to celebrate Christmas on January 7). After that only the festivities finish, decorations are collected and good memories and sometimes bad stomachs stay by overeating and by eating not so fresh food. (So when you are a guest, feel free to enjoy food during the first days and when you are told it is fresh – “Թարմ է”, avoid foods that can become bad in hot rooms). The words for congratulation are “ Շնորհավոր Նոր տարի”. [shnorhavor nor tari]


Armenian Christmas  is celebrated on January 6th- the day the Western Church
commemorates epiphany (baptism). The exact date of Christ’s birth has not been historically established and until the fourth century all Christian churches celebrated Christ’s birth on January 6. The date was changed to December 25 to override a pagan feast dedicated to the birth of the Sun which was celebrated that day. Thus the Church hierarchy designated December 25th as the official day of Christmas and January 6th as the feast of epiphany. However, Armenia was not effected by the change and remained faithful to the old tradition of celebrating both days on January 6th. On Christmas Eve and next morning believers go to churches bring lit candles and attend church services.

Part of the ritual is the “Blessing of Water,” when water is blessed with the holy chrism symbolic of Christ’s baptism. The families gather around a traditional Christmas dinner. The menu this time is quite different. Fish and mainly vegetarian dishes are served-rice pilaf with raisins, greens, pasuts dolma (dolma stuffed with different legumes and dried fruits). This is the only day that is reminding us the old tradition of so called small lent. As this was the day when it ended and people started eating animal products. The traditional greeting is in old Armenian-“Քրիստոս ծնավ և հայտնեցավ” [kristos tsnav yev haytnetsav] and the response is “Մեզ և ձեզ Սուրբ Ավետիս” [mez yev dzez surp avetis]